It’ll be Evgeni Nabokov back in goal, but other than that you can expect to see the same lineup against Dallas tonight that played in the 4-3 victory over Nashville on Tuesday. Assuming things don’t change from the morning skate, the line combinations and defense pairings will be:

The Sharks had an unusually easy time against the Stars last season, going 5-1. But has undergone a change or two since last April and Todd McLellan cautioned that “you can be misled if you think they’re the same team they were most of last year.”

One big change is behind the bench, where Marc Crawford has replaced Dave Tippett.

Teams with a new coach “are often refreshed for a little while and they play with a new-found enthusiasm and I think we see that from them,” McLellan said.

“The second thing is they’re healthy,” he continued. “I don’t think there was a team in the league last year that was as beat up as they were with injuries to key people.”

Third on his list was the improved play of goalie Marty Turco.

“Marty’s playing very well lately and last year at this time he maybe didn’t have his game where he wanted it to be,” McLellan said. “This year that can’t be said.”

****Doug Wilson is back from the general manager meetings in Toronto and watched the morning skate, spending much of the time in conversation with Jack Ortmeyer, who drove his son Jed’s truck from Omaha to San Jose and is taking in this homestand.

Wilson is among the general managers hoping to get the NHL to do something to limit shots to the head and though no changes were forthcoming this week, a committee was formed to examine the situation and present a report at the March meetings.

“I think it’ll get done at a smaller meeting,” Wilson said of the league’s need to come up with a way to limit head injuries. “This was a big meeting and a lot of things to be discussed and I’m not sure we got into any depth on a lot of things. That one (head shots), the appetite for clarifying that is there, should be there and will be there.

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“You talk about a north-south hit where the guy is straight in front of you, that’s a hockey play as long as the guy doesn’t leave his feet and elevate or whatever,” Wilson said. “The blind side hit is something that will be addressed. I think everybody came to a common understanding of that and it will be clarified.”

Wilson said it shouldn’t be seen as a question of getting hitting out of the game. But just as there are rules in place to protect a player’s knees, the head should be treated similarly.

On another matter, Wilson, who never has been a fan of the rule prohibiting goalies from touching the puck behind the goal line if it’s outside the trapezoid behind each net, brought that subject up again, too. He he wasn’t expecting any instant change.

“Normally what you’re doing is planting the seed for people to think about it and analyze it,” he said.

****A few people have asked me what I know about the condition of the boy in section 118 who was hit in the face by a puck during the first period of Tuesday night’s game against Nashville.

One of the Merc’s cityside writers, Bruce Newman, had a story in this morning’s paper that quoted a Sharks spokesman as saying they boy was not seriously injured, according to his family, which did not want to be identified.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Only two other reams should hate it more than us. Dallas (Turco) and New Jersey (Broduer). Nabby is one of the best stick handling goalies in the league and we’ve potentially got Stalock coming up (another great stick handling goalie). That stupid geometric shape handicaps one of our better weapons on the back end for disrupting forchecks.

It’s a shame.

http://na ice

personally, i still like the trapazoid rule behind the net. keeps goalies who like to wander too much (like nabby used to) from playing the puck too much behing the net.

But the goalies not being allowed to play the puck in the trapezoid does put the players who are chasing the puck down at a higher risk of injury. This has been noted before on the blog and in some articles. If the goalie can play it, this would decrease the risk of injury which the NHL is looking at lowering. Just food for thought.

SCSharksFan

EvilDucks –

Your comment reminded me of something I forgot to mention the other day, but I think somebody may have previously…

I was at the Pens game and that was the first thought that went through my head, “Who is that guy in goal… Marty Turco?” Obviously others have noticed it too… Nabby definitely has been handling the puck a lot more (and better) this year… I was always nervous when he did it last year… seemed to end up on the opposition’s stick more times than not, but this year he is better… I guess the work with Wayne Thomas is paying of?

From Mark Emmons article…

“But coach Todd McLellan does highlight one area of Nabokov’s game that has improved. Nabokov, he said, has made strides in his puck-handling, thanks to working with Sharks assistant general manager Wayne Thomas.”

Left Field

I would like to take it to a hybrid approach. Make the goalies safe in the trapezoid, and make them fair game (i.e. no penalty for goalie interference) outside the zone. That would make it so if the goalie wants to play it – fine, just no free lunch. I hate the idea of a goalie getting all that room and no one can get near him. It effectively would cut out the forecheck almost entirely.

Evilducks

Nabby was always good with the stick, I think he would go through phases where he just wasn’t on his game. I think the trapezoid limits the amount of practice he gets with it and he’s let his game slip a lot.

From #9’s article
“Nabokov has not only established himself among the league’s top netminders but is also a key reason the San Jose Sharks have been a dominant regular-season team in the second half of this decade”

Guess ppl do pay attention to the rags up on the rafters..

Evilducks

Spector has always had good things to say about Nabokov, he doesn’t quite get the reason fans here want to get rid of him so badly.

http://mercurynews.com theOldeReprobate

re Nabokov’s stickhandling

I’ve always thought Nabokov was terrible passing the puck, because he always waited to pass until the onrushing forechecker was right on top of him. This is often a good play for a skater to do, even if he has to absorb a hit, because it draws the defender to him and leaves more space for the teammates. The problem with Nabokov doing it, however, is that opponents have learned to send 2+ forecheckers. If Nabokov waits to pass until 1 guy is almost on top of him, then the next forechecker is almost on top of the D-man waiting at the corner or the halfboard. I’d rather see Nabokov make the outlet pass immediately.

I do agree that Nabokov has improved this year, especially in the Pens game, and now we know why. Even so, it seems the guy is still good for one heart-attack pass per game to an opponent when the net is totally empty.

SactoShark

Nabby just waits too long. He’d be fine if he made up his mind right away. When he’s on it, he’ll make some sweet stretch pass on an opponents line change. When he’s off, he gets buried by two fore checkers behind the net.

Rocknxj

I don’t know…Nabby reminds me more of Irbe than Turco when he wanders around behind the net…seems to be more of an adventure.

Fangarr

I have to admit Nabby has done a much better job this year, but in the past I would cringe whenever he would leave the net to play the puck. I still expect the worst when he goes back there as it is going to take some time to prove he is improved.

Evilducks

You only see Dallas 6 times a year, you don’t have the same notion of Turco that their fans do. He gives them heart attacks constantly as well.

It’s always going to be that way with goalies that play the puck. These guys are in giant pads, they move slow, and as soon as they walk away from the net everybody naturally panics a little. Also, look at their sticks, they’re not exactly designed with puck movement in mind.

NorthBay Sharkie

A couple former Sharks playing the Flyers on Comcast HD 721 right now. Great interview between periods with Dave Schultz.

campbell fin

Like wall was the coolest,it sucked when his dog almost bit off his hand,but his stick handling was enough to make you down a bottle full of tums,even with his illegal overbig hockey stick.I dont think Nabby is quite that bad and he’s improved,but most goalies will give you heart attacks when they try to stick handle.I think the best stick handling goalie to wear teal was Chris Terreri.

Momfin

Good to hear about the boy who was hit – was in our section and it looked ugly. Best wishes to him and his family.

Stevo

Once again, Sharks playing scared. Giving the Stars an escort into their zone.

Stevo

It’s the DET game all over again.

Stevo

Fortunately, no Z or Datsyuk tonight.

jhu12

Terrible SO Loss. Wow. Lucky goal for the Stars for #1, but the Sharks looked to be resting on their talent a bit. They did the same against Nashville and haven’t looked great in the last couple games.

Grrr.. oh well… when you don’t have to work hard and you still win one and lose one in a SO, I guess you are talented. Just remember what happens when you play that way in April.

campbell fin

SO not cool.

SCSharksFan

I have to say I’m not too let down by the loss… a total fluke first goal and then a goal by Modano that I (you) knew was going to happen as soon as Drew mentioned that he didn’t have a goal yet this season, and the last time he scored was 22 games ago against the Sharks last season… so typical… nice jinx Drew!!! 😉

I guess Turco played “Turco” better than Nabby tonight, eh?

SactoShark

I hate the shootout when we lose and I hate it when we win.

I especially hate it when we don’t put our best players out there for it.

SCSharksFan

I’m guessing(?) McLellan was banking on the “wild card” Vesce… maybe he figured since Turco has never faced him before… too bad he lost the puck off his stick, it might have ended up different?

Booger

#25 SCSharksFan i was thinking the same thing. I knew Modano was going to get a goal the second they mentioned how long it had been since he scored last. It usually seems like if the sharks are playing certain players, playing players who havent scored in a long time, or players who have never scored an NHL goal, those players will score. Especially if Randy and Drew mention it. Maybe they should keep those stats to themselves.

Ting

That first line does not look like it is clicking. I’ll give Seto one more game to shake off the rust. He JT and Heatley do not have the chemistry yet. Maybe its time to mix and match lines again. Third and 4th lines were excellent supplying energy, shots and physical play all night. Our top 2 lines were sleep walking it seemed.

Ting

#26 Seriously, what the heck was Vesce doing out in the shootout?????

Speaking of shootouts. They should go another 5 mins of 3 on 3 hockey after the 4 on 4. I hate shootouts period.

GP

I saw NO PROBLEM with Vesce in the shootout. Especially, it seemed the coach thought a right shot was gonna beat Turco. All 3 shooters were right shots.

jhu12

Agreed on Shootouts. How about we play 4v4 OT and if they don’t win… well, what about a tie!! Screw the extra point.

Why does Marleau not take all the SOs? He scores a lot on breakaways.

Sharks have had a couple of let down games lately IMHO. Tonight was one of them.

eddie

A couple weeks since I posted but here goes.

#29 Would have to totally disagree with you on this one. The top two lines looked really good tonight. The top line especially good. Heatley scored 1 goal and had 3 other great attempts, 2 right in front of the net. Seto looked good to me all night, had a few attempts in the slot blocked, but helped setup Heatley for two good shots right in the slot.

The third line that matched up against Modano’s line (that scored both of Dallas’s goals) looked especially bad tonight, and the 4th line played something like a total of 8 mins and did not see the ice in the 3rd period. Have no idea why you think they played great.

#31, I have a big problems with Vesce on in the shootout. First starting with the fact the guy played something like 5 total minutes in the game, second he’s the 12th best forward on the team tonight. Has a career total of something like 2 goals. And we left our top 3 goal scorers Marleau, Heatley and Seto on the bench during the shotout. Too me that means that the coaching staff felt Vesce is better at shootouts then our top 3 goal scorers. Heck you have 4 of the top players in the entire NHL in Marleau, Heatley, Thornton and Seto and you instead use Vesce. hmmmm. Not a great coaching move imo.

eddie

#29 Ting,

Just looking at boxscore would show that

Malhotra was -1
McGinn was -1

While our second line of
Pavelski +1
and
Clowe +1
and
Marleau 0

Our third line was matched up against Modano’s line tonight.

The most anyone played on the 4th line was McGinn who played 6:41 so how can you say they played great and provided energy. Energy, how can they provide energy when they were never on the ice. In fact I don’t think anyone from the 4th line saw the ice in the 3rd period, but Vesce saw ice time in the shootout, what a joke.

Ting

Eddie,

Heatley’s goal was a result of a pass from Pavs at the end of a power play. Other than maybe 1 or 2 other shifts that line did squat.

The first line did not click until later in the game. They were sleepwalking in the first period. Our energy lines played fine IMO and were more consistent.

TankGirl

Three words: shot accuracy practice.

(And I’m not talking about the shootout).
I understand that pucks roll and bounce and such, but how many high and/or wide shots and fanned shots can they come up with in one game? Seriously. That may have been the hardest thing to watch about tonight’s game…other than watching a 2-goal lead suddenly disappear in the third.
I almost thought Ehrhoff was still playing for us tonight.

And I agree with #27 Ting – the Heatley-Thornton-Seto thing isn’t really working…but I don’t think Heatley and Thornton are really clicking as well as expected. Not consistent by any means.

Ting

Eddie. No sh– sherlock. When the game is tight in the third period of course the 4th line sits.

Maybe if the top 2 lines showed some hustle in the first period and collected some goals the 4th line would be playing.

My point isn’t to favor a particular line, but the fact that the so called #1 line doesn’t always show up consistently through the whole game. And tonight was the case

eddie

35, Not a chance

Top line total of 8 shots on goal, with 1 goal scored. Setogucchi set up Heatley twice right in front of Turco and both times Turco made great saves.

Second line total of 7 shots, and 1 goal

Third line looked lost all night. Malhotra was a minus and was on the ice for the Modano goal. Ortmeyer was benched for part of the 3rd period and looked extremely bad. Nichol with the exception of his nightly penalty did nothing, and in fact I believe was our worst face off man tonight. The fourth line NEVER SAW THE ICE In the 3rd PERIOD AND EVERY PLAYER ON THE FOURTH LINE PLAYED LESS then 6:41

Ting

Did you even watch the fricking game? If you are just checking the stats, than my argument with you is futile.

eddie

And of course Ting you leave off the fact that our first line had about 5 excellent scoring opportunities and without the play of Turco tonight Heatley would have had a hat trick Sher lock. You also forgot to mention that only the first and second line had any part of the scoring tonight, and not a single first or second line player was a minus player.

We were leading 2-0 at the end of 2 so apparently the first two lines did something because they scored both goals.
Its always funny that people such as you come on and fail to recognize or give credit to the fact that the Dallas goalie Turco played a great game, and actually robbed Heatley of a potential hat trick tonight. And you also fail to give credit to the defensive ability of some of the Dallas forward.

As for the 3rd line they were the group on the ice when Dallas scored, and they were running around with there heads cutoff.

Funny you leave off the fact that every player on the Dallas fourth line played more then every player on our 4th line, yet they (Dallas) were losing for most of the game.

I will stand corrected on Nichol he was not our worst faceoff guy Thornton was.

The Dallas 4th line played 11 shifts compared to our fourth line playing 7 shifts.

Malhotra total hits tonight 0, Setogucchi 2, Heatley 1, Thornton 2.

Sorry Ting but the stats, nor apparently what the Sharks coaching staff felt does not back up what you are saying.

eddie

#39, Ting

Apparently you didn’t watch the game

Questions for you.

Did you see Heatley set up twice in the 2nd period right in the slot in front of Turco and be robbed by Turco. Who set him up with those passes?

Did you see the shot that Turco saved with his back leg in the 3rd period guess what line was on the ice then.

Did you see Seto right in front of Turco just a few steps above the slot with 2 chances in the 2nd period, and 1 in the 3rd period. The first shot was blocked on his second attempt he was stick checked.

Now tell us again Ting, What Shark,line was on the ice for the Modano goal

And yes Ting I was at the game, like I am every game.

GP

I hate to say this…but your both right. LOL.

Jumbo and Heater have really only clicked a couple times this season. It’s been kinda frustrating actually. Still, members of the 1st line got on the board and created offensive chances.

Somehow these guys that aren’t clicking are in the top ten of scoring in the NHL so far.

eddie

Some final comments Ting

1. Do you think there is a reason why Turco was voted star #1 for the game? Was it because of our bad play?

2. Tell us what the 3rd and 4th line did again. The 3rd was on the ice for at least one of the Dallas goals, and the fourth line did not play enough to bring any energy. Explain to us all how a line that plays an average of 5 minutes and 7 shifts for an entire game brings energy? And if they were playing so well why did they not see any ice time after the first 35 minutes of the game, yet Dallas’s “energy line” did? Were we not ahead 2-0?

eddie

And GP,

Least we forget that Seto would be in the top 10 also if he didn’t miss time due to injury. Seto is still our #3 goal scorer dispite missing something like 3 games.

GP

eddie,

You misunderstand. I’m not even close to taking your side. LOL again.

I could have said my opinion as follows: Your Wrong! The first line hasn’t been close to clicking despite all of the goals/assists and scoring chances and some clutch play. And to Ting, I might have said: it’s clear to me that you can’t see how hard these guys are working and getting chances — Top ten in the NHL so far in goals/assists/points.

Sharkalchemy

Top line was on fire before Seto went down, no reason they can’t do it again. Remember RW lost this team with his haphazard method of shuffling lines. TM has been much better in this regard and his changes overall are well timed and reasoned and yet the overall plan is still in effect.

I think it’s more that Thornton and Heatley both seem to put it on cruise control at times and when it’s at the same time, they’re basically flat. That didn’t happened tonight as Heatley shot the puck more than last game but I’d still like to see him shoot even more.

He did get score on a pass from Pavs…hmmmm

Heatley – Pavs – McGinn

When Heatley works hard, he’s always dangerous. Little Joe’s work ethic could rub the Heater the right way. Sometimes it seems he cruises with JT and the game is almost easy for those big guys and they kinda forget to work hard together to get things done.

bump PM with JT and Seto. Clowe better keep scoring cuz McGinn is poised to gun for his slot on the 2 line and soon.

Worth a try at some point anyway.

Marleau12

Has noone noticed in the last few games its been Pavelski and Heatley driving the net together? Why hasn’t TM put them on a line? I would say that Marleau Pavs and Heater could end up being a pretty lethal combo. If we are mixing it up why not? Just a thought…….

Marleau12

I know that Marleau and Heater are both LW…but can one go to RW? Or maybe put Seto instead of Marleau?